Pendant earring having toggle attaching means



May 27, 1969 J. L. DRISCOLL PENDANT EARRING HAVING TOGGLE ATTACHINGMEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1965 MAY BE TWO SEPARATE STRANDS INVENTOR.

JESSE L.- DRISCO ATTORNEY 3,446,034 PENDANT EARRING HAVING TOGGLEATTACHING MEANS Jesse L. Driscoll, 100 Oak Rim Way, Los Gntos, Calif.95030 Filed Sept. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 488,990

Int. Cl. A44c 7/00 US. CI. 6313 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adevice for attaching ornaments to an ear. The ornaments are secured to aflexible filament extending straight through the pierced ear to atubular rigid member extendable lengthwise through the pierced lobe, andwhich is adjustable to a position transversely of the pierced earaperture thus forming a toggle which retains the ornaments on the outerside of the ear lobe.

My invention relates to earrings of the type adapted to be used on earlobes which are pierced to form apertures therethrough to receive a partof the earring for attaching it to the lobe. Particularly my inventionrelates to earrings of the pendant type wherein at least one or more ofthe ornaments thereof are suspended from the ear lobe.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an earring which allows ofthe easy and quick application of the earring to the ear lobe and thelocking thereof on the lobe against accidental detachment therefrom soas to prevent its displacement and possible loss.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of an earring thatfurther allows the easy and quick detachment thereof from the ear lobewhen desired.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide an earring having partsall of which are permanently connected to each other so as to eliminatethe necessity in prior earring of manually attaching the earring partsto each other to allow application of the earring to an ear lobe, andthe detachment of such parts from each other to permit removal of theearring from the lobe. As a consequence, the loss or misplacement of anyof the parts of the earring is entirely eliminated and particularly inthose types of earrings having one or more ornaments which are suspendedin pendant relation to the ear lobe.

A still further purpose of my invention resides in the provision of anearring which embodies a rigid toggle member that can be manuallyextended lengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe to theinner side thereof; a flexible element in the form of filament or threadpreferably formed of nylon to provide the necessary strength, thiselement connected to the member in such manner that under extension ofthe member to the inner side of the lobe portions of the element aredrawn into and partially through the aperture; and a pair of ornamentson the ends of the element with one of the ornaments manually operablethrough the element to move the latter to a position transversely of theaperture thereby securing the element against accidental removal fromthe lobe, and the other ornament manually operable through the elementto move nited States Patent the latter to a position coaxial with theaperture and outwardly thereof to permit complete detachment of theearring from the lobe.

I will describe only three forms of earrings, each embodying myinvention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section and on an enlargedscale, showing one form of earring embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing in rear elevation a human ear and the earringof FIG. 1 in position for application to the aperture of the ear lobe.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the crosspiece or toggleof the earring of FIG. 2 extended completely through the lobe aperture.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the crosspiece inposition transversely of the aperture of the ear lobe.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the outer side of the ear lobe and with theearring of FIG. 4 in side elevation.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the earring as it appears from the inner sideof the ear lobe.

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the crosspiece shiftedto a position coaxial with the lobe aperture so that it can be withdrawnfrom the aperture incident to detachment of the earring from the lobe.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but on a reduced scale, and modifiedto show another form of earring embodying my invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the earring of FIG. 7 asit is applied to the ear lobe.

FIG. 9 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a third form of earringembodying my invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of the earring of FIG. 9 on a reduced scale andshowing it as applied to an ear lobe.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and to the form of earringshown in FIG. 1, it comprises a crosspiece or toggle member 15constructed of metal or other suitable material and which is shown as oftubular form to provide a passage 16 therethrough. The leading end ofthis passage is closed by constricting the tubular toggle member 15 toform a somewhat pointed terminus 17. The toggle member 15 is furtherprovided on one side thereof and substantially medially of its ends,with an opening 18 leading to the passage 16.

As best shown in FIG. 1 the medial portion of a flexible element in theform of a length of thread 19', preferably of nylon and of suitabletensile strength, is received in the passage 16 so as to extend from theopen end thereof to and through the opening 18. Those portions of thethread 19 extending beyond the open end of the passage 16 and beyond theopening 18 are designated 19a and 19b, respectively. To the free end ofthe thread portion 19a is secured an ornament 20, while secured to thefree end of the portion 19b is an ornament 21. These ornaments, in thepresent instance are of ball form and the ornament 21 is larger than theornament 20' so as to give additional weight thereto.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the earring just described ispositioned with the pointed end '17 at the entrance of the aperture 22of a pierced ear lobe 23 of a human ear 24, and with the thread portions19a and 19b fully extended from the crosspiece 15. With the parts of theearring in the positions described, the user can apply the earring tothe ear lobe by merely pushing the crosspiece forwardly into and throughthe aperture 22 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

As the crosspiece 15 moves through the aperture it draws the threadportions 19a and 19b partly through the aperture so that the ornaments20 and 21 now occupy the positions shown in FIG. 3. By now pullingdownwardly or outwardly on the ornament 21, the thread or filament 19 isactuated to pull on the crosspiece 15 through the opening 18, and sincethis opening is approximately medial of the ends of the crosspiece 15,it operates to turn the crosspiece to a position in which it is disposedtransversely of the aperture 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 and,whereby, the crosspiece 15 serves to secure the earring on the ear lobeagainst accidental displacement. The crosspiece 15 may assume thehorizontal position shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, but it may assume otherpositions, but in any position transverse of the aperture 22 the earringis secured against displacement from the ear lobe by the crosspiece 15.

In the final position of the earring on the ear lobe the ball 20 iscontiguous to the outer side of the ear lobe, while the ball 21 ispendant to the ear lobe through downward extension of the portion 19b ofthe thread.

When it is desired to intentionally remove the earring of FIG. 6 fromthe ear lobe, it is only necessary to exert a pull outwardly on the ball20 whereby the thread portion 19a is actuated to exert its pull on theopen end of the crosspiece 15, thereby returning the latter to aposition in which it is aligned with the aperture 22 as shown in FIG. 6Aso that by continued pull on the ball it can be finally removed from theaperture and the earring thus detached from the ear lobe.

Now, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 I have here shown another form ofearring embodying my invention and which is designed to suspend from theear lobe both of the ornaments 20 and 21 in pendant relation. This formof earring is identical to the form shown in 'FIG. 2 in that itcomprises a crosspiece or toggle 15 of the same construction as thecrosspiece of FIG. 2.

Likewise, the thread 19 is also employed and associated with thecrosspiece 15 in the same manner as the crosspiece 15 of FIG. 2.

However, in order to permit the ornaments 20 and 21 to be suspended fromthe ear lobe, the thread 19 is of greater length, there to move thecrosspiece 15 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the transverseposition shown in FIG. 4 and still maintain the ornament 20 in pendantrelation to the ear lobe as shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 7 the thread 19 isshown fixed against lengthwise movement in the passage 16 by the use ofa suitable adhesive applied to the thread within the passage at thepoint 16a.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, I have here shown another form ofearring embodying my invention. This earring is distinguishedstructurally from the other forms by employing more than two ornamentsall held in pendant form from the ear lobe and in vertical alignmentwith each other. This earring embodies the same crosspiece 15 as theother forms.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the thread portion 19b is relatively short andits free end fixed by a suitable adhesive, as at 25, to the top of theuppermost ornament of a series of ornaments 26 in the present instance,three. All ornaments 26 are axially bored to provide openings 26atherethrough and these openings are aligned with collars 27 fixed to theconfronting sides of the ornaments, and an additional collar 27a on thelowermost ornament 26.

The thread portion 19a in this instance is relatively long and of suchlength that it extends downwardly through all of the ornament openings26a and the collars 27 and 27a, and is freely movable therethrough. Thefree end of the thread portion 19a as it projects from the collar 27ahas an ornament 28 fixed thereto.

4 It will be understood from the preceding description of the first formof my earring that in the form shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the crosspiece ortoggle 15 is extendable into and through the lobe aperture 22, and oncetherethrough it can be turned to a position transverse of the apertureby pulling downward on any one of the ornaments 26. Thus, the toggle 15operates to secure the earring on the lobe, and all of the ornamentsvertically aligned and in pendant relation thereto as shown in FIG. 10.

To detach the earring of FIG. 10 from the ear lobe, it is only necessaryto pull downwardly on the ornament 28, thus actuating the thread portion19a to shift the crosspiece 15 to a position aligned with the aperture22 thereby permitting withdrawal of the crosspiece therefrom andresulting in complete detachment of the earring from the ear.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of earrings,each embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changesand modifications may be made herein without departing from the spiritof my invention, and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An earring, including: means for securing ornaments to an ear, saidmeans comprising an elongated and tubular rigid member of a size to beextendable lengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe to theinner side of said lobe, a flexible element extending through a portionof said rigid member with one end portion thereof projecting from theside of said member and having a first ornament fixed to its free end,and the other end portion thereof projecting from the trailing end ofsaid member and having a second ornament fixed to its free end whereby,through extension of said member through said aperture said end portionswill be drawn into and partially through the aperture so that by thenpulling downwardly on the first ornament the end portion of said elementconnected to the first ornament exerts a lateral pull on said member tomove the latter to a position transversely of said aperture andcontiguous to the inner side of said lobe thereby securing said memberagainst accidental removal from the lobe and said first ornament pendantto the lobe by said one end portion.

2. An earring as embodied in claim 1, wherein said other end portion ofthe flexible element is of a length such as to hold the second ornamentcontinguous to the outer side of the lobe when said member reaches aposition transversely of the aperture.

3. An earring, including: means for securing ornaments to an ear, saidmeans comprising an elongated rigid member of a size to be extendablelengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe from the outerside to the inner side of said lobe; a first flexible element connectedat one end to one end of said member; an ornament fixed to the other endof said element; a second flexible element connected at one end to saidmember intermediate the ends thereof; and a second ornament fixed to theother end of said second element.

4. An earring as embodied in claim 1, wherein said other end portion ofthe flexible element is of a length such as to suspend the secondornament from the outer side of the ear lobe when said rigid memberreaches a position transversely of the aperture and contiguous to theinner side of the ear lobe.

5. An earring as embodied in claim 4 wherein said suspended secondornament has an axial bore and in which that other end of said flexiblemember projecting from the side of said rigid tubular member is slidablythreaded through the axial bore of said suspended second ornament.

6. An earring as embodied in claim 5 wherein said suspended secondornament is a series of ornaments having aligned axial bores throughwhich the other end of said flexible member is threaded for slidingmovement.

7. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced earcomprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in itsside between the ends thereof; a flexible element extending freelyslidably through one end of said member and freely slidably through saidopening so that it can be moved lengthwise in either direction throughsaid member and opening; and ornaments on the ends of said element of asize exceeding the internal diameter of said member and the size of saidopening.

8. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced earcomprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in itsside medially of its ends; a flexible filament slidably secured to saidmember with its medial portion extending freely into one end of saidmember and outwardly of the latter through said opening so as to leave afirst end portion extending from said one end of said member, and asecond end portion extending from said opening; a first ornament fixedto said second end portion and through which said first end portionfreely slidably extends; and a second ornament fixed to the free end ofsaid first end portion.

9. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced earcomprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in itsside medially of its ends; a flexible filament slidably secured to saidmember with its medial portion extending freely into one end of saidmember and outwardly of the latter through said opening so as to leave afirst end portion extending from said one end of said member, and asecond end portion extending from said opening; a plurality of ornamentsfixed to said second end portion in superimposed relation thereon andformed with registering openings through all of which said first endportion freely slidably extends; and another ornament fixed to the freeend of said first end portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 296,542 4/1884 Draper 63-211,419,370 6/1922 Genaille 63-21 2,131,372 9/ 1938 Flood -22 FOREIGNPATENTS 7,122 5/1886 Great Britain. 11,522 8/ 1 887 Great Britain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

